Street-flushing machine.



PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. v

L. F. OTTOFY.

STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10,1902.

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No. 795,059. PATENTED JULY 18, 1.905.

L.F.0TTOPY. STREET FLUSHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IjOV. 10,1902.

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L. F.-0TTOFY.

- STREET PLUSHING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1902.

No. v795,059.

UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905. I

PATENT OFFICE.

LEOPOLD FRANK OTTOFY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO AMERI- CANSTREET FLUSHING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

A CORPORATION.

STREET-FLUSHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,059, dated July 18,1905.

Application filed November 10, 1902. Serial No. 180,795-

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I,LEoroLD FRANK OTTOFY, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented aStreet-Flushing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to street flushing or washing carts in whichwater is stored in and discharged from a tank under pressure in such IOmanner as to flush or wash the streets as distinguished from theheretofore well-known sprinkling-carts, inwhich water not under pressureis merely sprinkled upon the street to allay dust, &c.

I 5 The object of the invention is to devise a street-flushing cart inwhich the discharge of the water is easily and accurately controlled bythe driver, in which the delivery of the water shall be such as tosecure the maximum washing effect without excessive use of water andwithout damage to the street, and in such manner that the effect of thewater upon the street is easily under the observation of the driver, andat the same time shall be so con- 2 5 cealed as not to interfere withpedestrians or passing vehicles.

In watering or sprinkling devices the object is to distribute the waterin the form of spray evenly over as large an area as possible and 0 insufiiciently small quantity to avoid flooding. These devices may beoperated upon the gravity or pressure system with the same effect. Influshing or washing devices, on the contrary, it is necessary tolocalize the distribu- 3 5 tion of water and to have it strike withconsiderable velocity at an angle depending upon the nature of thesurface, so as to have first a scouring and then a flushing effect tocarry off before it the loosened material.

4 To this end the present invention comprises a reservoir provided withmeans for exerting pressure upon water contained therein, combined withnozzles especially constructed for discharging the water in suitablemanner.

In such devices an important practical element affecting the efficiencyresides in the construction and position of the nozzles relatively tothe surface to be washed, the wheel,

and the propelling means, and I have illustrated herein a combination ofthese respec- 5 tive instrumentalities which I have found best adaptedto the conditions of actual practice.

Other features of the invention will be more fully described hereinafterin connection with the accompanying drawings, in whiclr- 55.

Figure l is a side elevation of one form of cart embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 is a plan elevation, of thesame.

1 is a liquid -containing vessel or tank mounted on wheels, 2 aninlet-valve through which the tank can be charged with liquid underpressure from a suitable source, and 3 an air-inlet valve through whichit is desirable to pump by means of a suitable air-pump 5 a certainamount of air into the tank before filling with water. It isadvantageous to use an initial pressure of about five pounds abovev theatmosphere; but for special purposes for instance, where work to be donerequires a 7 very violent discharge of the watera pressure as great astwenty pounds may be used.

The machine is provided with nozzles L 4:, through which the water isdischarged, and is generally constructed, as shown, with three wheelsonly, the two rear wheels 5 5 being placed so as to take the greaterpart of the weight of the tank and thethird wheel 6 being located at thefront on the center line of the cart and having attached to it theshafts or pole for the horse or horses, so that a delivery of Watersayfrom somewhere near the center of the tank and underneath it-can takeplace in a forward direction'at even a small angle to the direction ofmovement of the cart with- 5 out any danger of the water striking thelegs of the horse. As will be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the nozzle 4 ismade fiat transversely and will consequently throw a broad substantialfiat stream, which, by adjusting the posi- 9 tion of the nozzle, can bemade to strike the pavement at the angle necessary to give the maximumscouring effect. As shown in the drawings, the nozzles are located closeto the ground, within a few inches, and are directed outwardly andforwardly. They are also between the forward and rear wheels andsubstantially underneath and concealed by the tank. In operation,therefore, the water is delivered free of the wheels under easyobservation by the driver, and at the same time the stream is notreadily noticeable by pedestrians or passing vehicles. At the same timethe water is delivered in a flat sheet nearly parallel with the streetand washes the dirt forward and outward without injuring the pavement.

It is obvious that instead of one wheel 6 two such wheels arranged sideby side and at less distance apart than the wheels 5 5 may be employedwithout interfering seriously with the forward discharge of the water.

The nozzles 4 4 are attached to the tank preferably by means of swivelor ball-andsocket joints 10, which enable them to be adjusted in anydirection horizontally or vertically or to allow thenozzle itself to betwisted. The object of this is to enable the driver to adjust or set thenozzles so that they will di rect the flow of the water in such wise asto suit the different requirements of streets or roads in differentstates of weather or of different degrees of dirtiness or of differentcontour. The nozzles may be placed in about the positions shown upon theends of transverse supply-pipes 8, extending from the well or casing 9connected with the tank, which is between the front and back wheels; butthe position of the nozzles may be varied. Each pipe 8 has a cock 8, theplug of which is geared to crank-handle 8 in proximity to the driversseat 10. The water may be directed ac'oss and underneath the cart fromeither s1 e. paratus can be driven down the center of the road, and byusing the two nozzles the whole width of the road can be washed, or byusing only one of the nozzles one side of the road can be washed on theone journey, the other side being washed on the return journey.

It has been found in practice with those sprinkling-carts which deliverthe waterwfor:

sward ly that the horse and the wheels interfere with the stream ofwater and prevent its operation to the best advantage on the road.Moreover, the constant splashing of water on the wheels damages thebearings to such an extent that they have to be constantly oiled andcleaned, generally as often as twice every day. This does not occur inthe use of my cart, which not only enables the driver to see the streamof water, and thereby to see that the water is efliciently washing thestreet and to more readily control the flow of water, so as to avoidwetting anyvehicles or pedestrians, but by enabling the stream of waterto be kept near the ground and quite clear of the wheels gives agreatly-improved washing action on the road and also prevents damage tothe wheels above referred to, the bearings of the wheels The arrangementis such that my ap-' remaining dry and being kept free from water andgrit.

A washing-cart constructed as illustrated is capable of being turned ina narrow street, the wheel-base being short and the front wheel turningfreely in any direction.

If preferred, the tank may be mounted upon acranked axle 11, so as to benearer the ground, and thus increase the stability of the wagon. Theking-bolt 12 of the fore-carriage works in bracket 13, is fixed to thefront of the tank, as shown. 14 14: are bearing-springs. It will beobvious that the length of axle and diameter of wheels may be varied asdesired and that the usual straight axle may be used instead.

15 is a float carried by a lever 15, secured to a spindle 16, whichextends through stuffing-boxes in the walls of a hollow bracket 17, andat the exterior is provided with a pulleyquadrant 18, to which isattached one end of a cord 19, whose other end is attached to thecounterweighted pointer of a doublefaced dial 20 at the front of thetank in full View of the driver. As the level of the water varies themovements of the float will correspondingly move the pointer of thedial, which latter is graduated so as to show the quantity of waterwhich is left in the tank. It may also indicate the air pressure, whichalso ought to be shown on an air-pressure gage.

22 is a float near the bottom of the tanks. Then the water is above acertain level, the float holds closed a cock or valve 23, to which it isconnected, and which then prevents the passage of air from the tankthrough pipes 24: 24: to a whistle 25. When the water drops below thesaid level and it becomes advisable to stop further discharge, the float22, which has been straining upward but unable to move, falls with thefurther delivery of water. This movement of the float operates thesuitable cook or valve 23 and allows a flow of air to take place fromthe tank through the open-ended pipe 2 1, cock 23, and pipe 24 throughthe whistle, so that the driver is warned that it is time for him tostop the further delivery of water. Instead of or in addition to anaudible signal a visual one may be operated by the opening of the cookor valve 23, as described. I may also use a further device by which ifwater continues to be discharged from the tank after one or both of thesignals previously mentioned have been given a jet of water will strikethe driver, thus compelling him to close the valve. For this purpose thefloat 22 may have connected to it a cock or valve 26, controlling thepassage of water from the lower part of the tank through the pipe 27,the outer end of which is directed toward the driver.

It may be advantageous to attach to the forecarriage a suitable shield29, which, moving with the horse, will become interposed between theflow of water and the animal should the driver thoughtlessly attempt toturn the horse when the water is being delivered so as to bring itintoline with the stream of water.

As the conditions required for washing are variable and it is ofimportance for the driver to closely Watch the action of the water, insome cases I use the two forwardly-directed nozzles 4 4 for washing andprovide one or two nozzles 30 at the rear end of the cart for speciallysprinkling or watering purposes. This arrangement has the advantage ofsupplementing the flushing action of the forward nozzles and insuringthat the particles of dirt will all be carried off by the additionalwater suppiied by the rear nozzles.

I may provide my cart with an additional outlet-cock 81 and a small hose32 of asuitable length with a nozzle for use in washing the-sidewalks ofthe streets or for taking upinto courts or alleys, so that they can bewashed from the water-supply in the cart. In the latter case the cart ofcourse would be stationary; but in the former, for washing the sidewalksof streets, the cart would move slowly along the street, while the hoseis manipulated along the pavement, washing the dirt into the gutter.

In the case of a power-driven cart four wheels may be used incombination with the motor, and the delivery-nozzles 4 4 can be broughtright in front of the cart, as there will be no obstruction in the formof a horse.

It will be understood that some of my improvements may be used Withoutothers, and various modifications may be made Without departure from myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a traveling street-Washing machine, the combination with a tankadapted to contain water under pressure, of a nozzle or nozzles locatednear the plane of the points upon which the machine is supported, andhaving narrow elongated delivery-apertures which open toward the frontof the machine and are substantially parallel to said plane, saidnozzles being constructed to deliver water under pressure nearlyparallelto said plane.

2. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tankadapted to contain water under pressure and mounted upon forward andrear wheels, of a nozzle or nozzles located near the plane of the pointsupon which the machine is supported, and having narrow elongateddelivery-apertures which open toward the front of the machine, and aresubstantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles being constructed andarranged to deliver water under pressure nearly parallel to said planeand forward of the rear wheels.

3. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tankadapted to contain water under pressure and mounted upon forward andrear supports, of a nozzle or nozzles located sufficiently near theplane of the points upon which the machine is supported to besubstantially concealed from view, and having narrow elongateddelivery-apertures which open laterally toward the front of the machineand are substantially parallel to said plane, said nozzles beingconstructed and positioned to deliver water underpressure at the side orsides of the machine nearly parallel to said plane, forward andlaterally of the rear support and avoiding the front support.

4. In a traveling street-washing machine, the combination with a tankadapted to contain water under pressure, of an adjustablymounted nozzleor nozzles located near the plane of the points upon which the machineis supported, and having narrow elongated deliveryapertures Which opentoward the front of the machine and are substantially parallel to saidplane, said nozzles being constructed to deliver water under pressurenearly parallel .to said plane.

Signed at 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, England, this 1st day ofNovember, 1902.

LEOPOLD FRANK OTTOFY.

WVitnesses:

EDWARD SHAW, G. LIVINGSTONE SHAW.

